Ice crusher



y 7, 9 6- J. K. MATTER EfAL 2,046,396

ICE CRUSHERY Filed July 29,1933 2 sheets-sheet 1' I INVENTORS AT/Vnrrse & Z arms-e 592%;5;

- H RNE? J. K. MATTER :1- AL 2,046,396

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR v J3me: K717477192 & Aurwtet'. 5177:;

Patented July 1, 193a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ICE OBUSHER James K. Matter and Luther E. Geiger, New

Remington, Pa, assign ore to The Aluminum Cooking Utensil Company, New Kensington, Pa... a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 29, 1933, Serial No. 682,832

Claims. .(01. 83-63) adapted to be operated with minimum effort and which is of simple and rugged construction. Another object of the invention is to provide an ice crusher especially adapted for household use in crushing ice cubes produced by mechanical re- 'frigerators, and other relatively small pieces of ice. Another object of the invention is to provide an effective ice crusher which may be readily modified to adapt it to a variety of purposes, such as extracting juices from citrus fruits, dicing vegetables, and the like. A still further object of the invention is to provide a stand or operating, mechanism which may be readily employed as a major part of an ice crusher'or other pressing apparatus. These and other objects of the invention will be more readily appreciated from the following description ,when considered with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig, 1 is a top plan view of an ice crusher embodying our invention;

Fig. 2 is a view; partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, of our improved ice crusher in operating position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the face of one suitable form of plunger employed in the device;

5 Fig. 4 is a top plan view on a somewhat larger scale of part of the apparatus, shown in Fig. 1;

.Figs. 5 and 6 are views, partly in section and partly in elevation, taken respectively on the lines V-Vand VI-VI of Fig. 4;

40 Fig. 7 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, of a modified form of part of the press;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the modified construction; and

45 Fig. 9 is a plan view of a modified plunger face.

In the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate similar parts in each of the views, and referring especially to Figs. 1 to 6, the

50 embodiment of our invention illustrated is an ice crusher of small size which is especially adapted for crushing ice cubes of the well known type produced by mechanical refrigerators, the cubes being crushed one or a few at a time. This press 5: or crusher is provided with'a base I of any suitable shape and size, but preferably designed to give it stability as by providing integrally formed spaced supporting feet 2 at its extremities. At the front end of the base (to the left in the drawings) the feet are preferably positioned at g the ends of legs or extensions so spaced as to define an opening 4 at the front of the base, in which a bowl or other ice-receiving receptacle may be readily inserted. It is also usually preferable to provide soft pads 3 of rubber, felt, or 10 other suitable material on the bottoms. of the feet 2 to minimize slipping of the press during use and to eliminate the possibility of marring a table top or other support on which the press may be employed. 16 I The base is provided with an upstanding arm or bracket 5, which is formed integrally with thebase i or otherwise secured thereto, and which extends upwardly and preferably forwardly substantially on the longitudinal center line of go the base. At its, upper end the arm 5 is provided with a frame or chamber 6 defining an opening 1. This opening preferably extends substantially vertically through the frame and is substantially perpendicularly above the opening 25 4 in the base I. The frame, and the opening defined thereby, may be of any suitable shape, but are preferably symmetrical about the center line of the base and may conveniently be square with rounded corners, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, 30

for example. The inner surfaces of the walls laterally surrounding the opening I and constituting the frame 6 are provided with downwardly extending grooves 9. These grooves are preferably arranged in pairs opposing each other across the opening, and they may extend downwardly substantially from the top of the frame as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, for example, or they may be limited to the lower part of the frame walls as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. The grooves are terminated adjacent the lower edges of the frame walls by narrow transverse ledges l0 adapted to support in the frame opening, usually in cooperation with the grooves 9, blades or some otherdevice capable of cooperating with the plunger of the press toapply pressure to ice or other substances resting thereon. In some instances this function can be performed by the transverse ledges alone, without employing the grooves.

In the portable ice crusher constituting the preferred embodiment of our invention, intersect- ,ing and preferably interlocking blades Ii with toothed or serrated edges, upwardly disposed, are supported in the frame opening I by the transverse ledges ll. These blades are of such length as to-extend across the opening and are cut away at the lower side adjacent the ends as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 8, for example, or are otherwise provided with shoulders l2 adapted to rest on the ledges II) and support the blades in the desired position. The number of blades employed depends on the size of the opening 1 and the desired size of the crushed ice, but it is generally suitable for domestic purposes to provide four blades, as illustrated. These blades ar'eof two types, illustrated respectively in Figs. 5 and 6, one pair being notched upwardly from the lower edge and the other pair being notched downwardly from the upper edge, so that they intersect and interlock in known manner to form a more or less rigid grid which may be readily handled as a single unit. This grid or group of blades is preferably detachably mounted in the frame opening, as by merely sliding the ends of the blades down in the grooves 9 until they rest on the ledges III, but the blades may be more or less permanently held in position by hammering, welding, riveting, or otherwise, if desired.

Pivotally attached-to the frame or head piece 6, and preferably attached adjacent the front upper corner of the frame as shown, is a hand lever or handle l5 of any suitable shape. The attachment may be effected by means of a pair of cars or lugs ll extending upwardly from the top of the frame adjacent its most forward corner and provided with transverse openings adapted to receive a pivot rod or hinge pin It. The handle is 20, which is preferably'formed integrally with the body of'the handle, and which fits snugly between the upstanding lugs l1 and rotatably engages the pivot rod l8, so that the handle is rotatable about its pivot in a substantially vertical plane which preferably passes centrally through the frame opening 1.

Pivotally or otherwise attached to the handle II is a plunger 22 adapted to cooperate with the blades or other devices supported in the frame opening I to crush ice or apply pressure for other purposes. Attachment is preferably efiected by forming a substantially perpendicular extension or pair of extensions 24 on the handle near its pivoted end but spaced therefrom by a distance suchthat the projection 2| extends downwardly substantially vertically and substantially centrally of the frame opening when the press or crusher is in the completely closed position. The plunger 22 is then pivotally connected adjacent the end of the projection 24, as indicated at 25. The plunger itself consists of a relatively heavy face member or operating part 21 with an upstanding stem or connecting rod 29 extending pe p ndicularly upward therefrom. This stem may be reinforced on one or more sides with suitably shaped ribs or fillets 30, if desired. The operating or face portion 21 of the plunger is of such size and shape as to have a snug but readily slidable fit within the frame opening I, and it will be understood that the plunger reciprocates in the frame opening when the handle is raised and lowered. It will also be appreciated that when the extension 24 is provided on the handle, the normal movement of the handle from the open position to the closed position of the crusher brings the pivot point 25 above the center of the opening I and then rotates it through an arc which terminates when the projection extends substantially cen-' trally and vertically downward into the frame opening. Since the face portion 21 of the plunger plunger stem 29 vertical as the pivot 25 to which it is attached moves through this arc. Consequently, as the plunger moves downwardly into the frame opening toward the blades I I supported therein (with or without ice or othermaterial thereon) the face of the plunger approaches these blades ansularly with a shear-like motion which is a combination of direct linear approach and rotation about the rearmost edge or corner of the plunger face. (See Fig. 2.) This results in the application of concentrated forces progressively along a line parallel to the longitudinal center line of the crusher, and increases its effectiveness as well as reducing the amount of force which it is necessary to apply to the handle l5 to effect the desired crushing. It will also be noted that when the projection 24 is provided on the handle a compound lever effect is obtained, which contributes to the success and ease of operation of the device.

then provided with a transverse tubular extension '7 p rtion 38 on the frame 6.

The working face 21 of the plunger 22 may be smooth, but a more efilcient crushing action usually results if the face of the plunger is provided with a number of intersecting grooves 32, which are preferably arranged to register, when the crusher is closed, with the blades ll supported in the frame opening I. These grooves 32 define a plurality of raised portions 33 on (or forming) the face 21 of the plunger, and the raised portions extend into the apertures between the blades II when the crusher is closed and prevent the packing 'or holding up of ice or other material in these apertures.

To prevent injury to the teeth or serrations 25 on the upwardly disposed edges of the blades H, which might result if they were struck by the face 21 of the plunger or by the bottoms of the grooves 32 therein, the handle I5 is preferably provided with a flattened portion or stop 31 adapted to engage a second stop or cooperatlniii These stops are so posltionedwith respect to the remaining mechanism that they engage one another to arrest or limit the downward motion of the handle I! and the plunger 22 before the face of the plunger or the bottoms of the grooves therein come into direct contact with the serrated edges of the blades II. To prevent the handle from swinging so far forward as to throw the press or crusher out of balance, or possibly to cause injury to a receptacle for crushed ice or the like positioned in the base opening I, the frame 5 is provided at its upper front corner and adjacent the pivotal support II for the handle with a second stop .40 adapted to engage a po'rtion ll of the surface of the handle, or a stopping member provided thereon, to limit the forward motion of the handle, as shown in Fig. '7, for example.

The operation of our improved press as an ice crusher will now be readily understood. A bowl or other suitable receptacle is placed in the opening 4 in the base of the crusher and the crush'er handle I5 is rotated forwardly about its pivot l8 substantially to the position shown in Fig. 7. One or more ice cubes or other pieces of ice of suitable size are inserted into the frame'opening I, where they rest on the upwardly disposed serrations on the blades I I. The crusher handle I5 is then rotated rearwardly and downwardly, which causes the plunger 22 to enter the frame opening I and contact the ice contained therein substantially as shown in Fig. 2. Very light pressure in a downward direction applied to the end 75 of the crusher handle is suflicient to force the plunger downward with the shear-like movement previously described, which crushes the ice into small particles. These particles fall through the vertically disposed apertures between the crusher blades into the receptacle provided. The downward or crushing motion of the plunger and the handle by which it is reciprocated are arrested when the stop 31 on the handle contacts the stop 38 on the frame.

Our improved press has been described with particular reference to its employment as an ice crusher, and it should be noted that when so employed the grid of intersectingand preferably interlocked blades ll may be readily removed for sharpening or replacement, if desired. It is also apparent that with or without removing the blades other devices capable of cooperating with the plunger to apply pressure to substances resting thereon, such as vegetable dicers or fruit-squeezing attachments, may be inserted in the frame opening. Such devices or attachments are of course ordinarily substituted for the ice-crushing blades i l, and supported by the ledges l0 and/or the grooves 9.

The modified form of press illustrated in Figs. 7 to 9 diners from the embodiment. previously described chiefly in that the side walls of the frame 6 are made of somewhat thinner material,

and channels or bosses 44 having grooves 9 therein are provided adjacent the lower edge of the,

frame to replace the substantially continuous grooves in the frame walls previously described. The functions of the grooves 9 and the narrow transverse ledges Iii by which the grooves are terminated are the same in this embodiment of the invention as in the apparatus previously described. With this thinner walled construction, which is advantageous in some methods of fabrication, the separate and distinctstop It at the upper front comer of the frame, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, for example, may be omitted, and the wall of the frame may be continued upwardly between theears or lugs H to is which the handle is is attached and is equally effective. When this type of frame construction is employed, it is preferable to provide the plunger with peripheral extensions 46,v as shown in Figs. 7 and 9, these extensions being so positioned that when the plunger reciprocates in the frame opening I the recesses between the said peripheral extensions 46 register with the grooved members II, which do not then interfere with the free movement of the plunger.

5 5 While our invention has been described with special reference to certain embodiments thereof which are now preferred, it will be obvious to 5 70 nating in transverse ledges adjacent the lower edge of said integral wall portions, a plurality of blades with serrated upper edges mounted in said opening with their ends in oppositely disi posed pairs of said grooves, said ends being supported by said ledges, a handle pivotally attached to the frame and a plunger attached to the handle and movable thereby into cooperative relation with said blades, the downwardly disposed'fall of said plunger being provided with intersecting grooves adapted to register with 5 said blades.

2. In a portable ice crusher, a base, an arm extendingupwardly from the base and secured thereto, a frame secured to said arm and defining a substantially vertical'opening bounded lat- 10 erally by integral side walls provided with grooves extending downwardly from the top thereof, said grooves being terminated by transverse ledges adjacent the lower edge of the frame, a plurality of intersecting blades having shouldered ends 15 supported by said ledges, said blades extendin across the opening in the said frame and having serrated upper edges, a handle pivotally attached to said frame and adapted to move in a substantially vertical plane, and a plunger pivotally 20 attached to said handle and adapted to reciprocate in said opening in the frame the downwardly disposed face of said plunger being provided with intersecting grooves adapted to register with said blades. 25 3. A portable ice crusher comprising a base having an opening in the front end thereof, an arm secured to said base and extending upwardly therefrom, a framesecured to said arm and extending forwardly therefrom and defining a 30 substantially vertical opening perpendicularly above the opening in said base, oppositely disposed continuous grooves extending downwardly interiorly of saidframe to a point adjacent its bottom where said grooves are terminated by narrow transverse ledges, a plurality of intersecting blades with serrated upper edges detachably mounted in said frame with their ends in said grooves and supported on said ledges, said blades defining vertically disposed apertures within the- 40 said opening in the frame, a handle pivotally attached adjacent the top and front of said frame and adapted to rotate about its pivot in a substantially vertical plane, a-plunger pivotally attached to said handle and adapted to be recipro- 45 cated thereby in the frame opening, the downwardly disposed face of said plunger being provided with intersecting grooves defining raised portions adapted to enter the said vertically disposed apertures between the blades, stops on said handle and on the rear of said frame adapted to cooperate to arrest the downward motion of said plunger to prevent contact between the plunger and the edges of said blades, and means 1 on, said frame adjacent the point of attachment of the said handle adapted to limit the forward motion of the handle. I

4. In a portable ice crusher the combination of a free base, an arm integral with said base and extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom, a unitary frame integral with said arm and deflning a vertical opening with integral side walls, grooves in said side walls extending from thert'op' thereof and terminated by transverse ledges adjacent the lower edge of said frame I and integral therewith, a plurality of separable intersecting blades having shouldered ends adapted to be received in said grooves and supported by said ledges, a handle pivotally attached to said frame at the forward and upper'portion thereof and adaptedfor rotation about its pivot in a substantially vertical plane, a plunger piv otally attached to said handle for reciprocation in said frame opening, intersecting grooves on the downwardly disposed face of said plunger deflning raised portions adapted to enter spaces between saidinter'secting blades, cooperating elements on said handle and the rearward portion of said frame for limiting the rearward and and extending upwardly and forwardly there- I from, a unitary frame integral with said arm and defining a vertical opening with integral side walls, grooves in said side walls extending 15 from the top thereof and terminated by transdered ends adapted tobe received in said grooves and supported by said ledges, a handle pivotally attached to said frame at the forward and upper portion thereof and adapted for rotation erating elements on said handle and the rearward portion of said frame for limiting the rearward and downward movement of said handle, and cooperating elements on said handle and the 5 downward movement of said handle, andcoopabout its pivotin a substantially vertical plane, 5 erating elements on said handle and the forward a plunger pivotally attached to said handle for portion of said frame'for limiting the upward reciprocation in said frame opening, intersecting and forward movement of said handle. grooves on the downwardly disposed face of said 5. In a portable ice crusher the combination plunger defining raised portions adapted to enter 10 of a free base, an arm integral with said base spaces between said intersecting blades, coopforward portion of said frame for limiting the 15 upward and forward movement of said handle.

JANIES K. MATTER. LUTHER E. GEIGER.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No; 2,046,396. July 7; 1956.

JAMES K. MATTER, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: 7 Page 3, second column, line 4, claim 1, for the word "fall" read face; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of September, A. D. 1936.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale Acting Commissioner of Patents.-

flning raised portions adapted to enter spaces between saidinter'secting blades, cooperating elements on said handle and the rearward portion of said frame for limiting the rearward and and extending upwardly and forwardly there- I from, a unitary frame integral with said arm and defining a vertical opening with integral side walls, grooves in said side walls extending 15 from the top thereof and terminated by transdered ends adapted tobe received in said grooves and supported by said ledges, a handle pivotally attached to said frame at the forward and upper portion thereof and adapted for rotation erating elements on said handle and the rearward portion of said frame for limiting the rearward and downward movement of said handle, and cooperating elements on said handle and the 5 downward movement of said handle, andcoopabout its pivotin a substantially vertical plane, 5 erating elements on said handle and the forward a plunger pivotally attached to said handle for portion of said frame'for limiting the upward reciprocation in said frame opening, intersecting and forward movement of said handle. grooves on the downwardly disposed face of said 5. In a portable ice crusher the combination plunger defining raised portions adapted to enter 10 of a free base, an arm integral with said base spaces between said intersecting blades, coopforward portion of said frame for limiting the 15 upward and forward movement of said handle.

JANIES K. MATTER. LUTHER E. GEIGER.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No; 2,046,396. July 7; 1956.

JAMES K. MATTER, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: 7 Page 3, second column, line 4, claim 1, for the word "fall" read face; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of September, A. D. 1936.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale Acting Commissioner of Patents.- 

